NEGRONI WEEK AT JASPER'S, KANSAS CITY

 Negroni Week at Jasper's was one memorable evening! Three amazing Negroni cocktails paired with everything, from fresh mozzarella to decadent yet light desserts kickstarted the celebrations. Negroni Week is celebrated widely, with restaurants donating a portion of their sales to a charity of their choice. Jasper's in Kansas City hosted the creme de la creme of KC's media fraternity for an exclusive preview of their Negroni week. Slow Food International was the charity of choice for this Kansas City restaurant. Jasper's is an award-winning, family-owned Italian restaurant in Kansas City, currently headed by Chef Jasper Mirabile Jr. Negroni Week ran June 4-10th.

For those of you who are unaware, Negroni is a famous Italian cocktail which is made with Campari, Gin, and sweet Vermouth. Jasper's created their own spin on it, by serving not only the classic Negroni but also two others, including a Limon Cello, Champagne and a Granita version of it. I had to settle for just sips of them all, as I was driving that night. Next time, its Negroni Week, remind me to hail an Uber! Personally, I am not a fan of sweet cocktails, and negroni was clearly up my alley with its mature and bitter notes, as you sipped your drink. 

As the Negroni flowed through the evening, I turned my attention to the food. Jasper's had created their own little competitor for the iconic Avocado Toast, with their Caprese Toast! As the fresh trays laden with Caprese toast made their way out of the kitchen, you almost felt like you were on a small Italian holiday right in the heart of KC. There could be Caprese toasts elsewhere, but none of them came with their own Mozzarella Theatre! 

Chef Jasper regaled us with his foodie stories from Italy and how he was inspired to seasonally change his menu. And that is not all, we were treated to the famous Mirabile Mozarella Theater. If you have not dined at japer's in KC yet, then you should plan your next date night there. Besides the amazing menu, don't miss the live Mozzarella Theater, hosted by the Mirabile family, wherein fresh mozzarella is made every evening in front of the guest. Having front row seats to this culinary theater has its own perks, I tell you. Fresh mozzarella, juicy and vine ripe heirloom tomatoes, garden fresh basil, found their way to the toast. Call me a die-hard romantic, but I was majorly missing my foodie partner in crime, my husband, throughout the evening. He is a great home chef and an awesome foodie, and he surely missed out an a great evening. But then again, had he not been on baby duty, I would not have been able to come. Cheers to all teh husbands who support their wives. 

Munching over Caprese Toast, the mingling continued, over Negroni. Chef Jasper then whipped up some fresh Summer Pasta for us all. I had bid portion control goodbye when I had walked in through the front doors of Jasper's that evening. As the name suggested, it was the perfect Summer main course anyone could have asked for. It was light yet very filling. A big dollop of fresh Ricotta and I was a happy soul. 

If you felt that you would be full by now, then you were mistaken. Two KC area Chefs were challenged by Chef Jasper to create Negroni inspired desserts. Donutology, KC, created Campari Donuts to appeal to your sweet tooth. 

KC Chef J C Gregg who is well known for his stint at the Great American Baking Show, created Campari Macarons and Negroni Opera Cakes, to say the least. The complexities and notes in the desserts by Gregg were truly a feast in themselves.

Cheers to good times, with some amazing foodies, to celebrate Negroni Week!